Bachelor of Creative Arts -Visual Arts

Course Description

The Visual Arts major in the Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA) degree at the University of Wollongong is based in studio practice and related theory and history studies. The studio processes available include drawing, digital imaging, painting, photography, printmaking media, sculpture and textiles. Students are not restricted to only one process and interdisciplinary work is encouraged. Student work is shown throughout the year in one of five gallery spaces in the Faculty.

Visual Arts majors work within their chosen studios under the direction of lecturers for four hours per week, with at least another four hours per week additional studio hours. Students also take a drawing-based Visual Investigations subject of four hours per week (+ four additional hours) and a Visual Arts Theory and History subject (three hours per week). These are the compulsory core subjects to be taken in each session of the course.

In first year, studio subjects introduce students to a range of media and processes. Studio skills are taught and a critical approach to their use is fostered in weekly seminars which study the histories of each art and craft discipline. In second year, studio subjects build on these basic techniques and skills. Increased emphasis is placed on the students' ability to achieve independence in ideas, technical skills and work practices. Students are encouraged to contextualise their artwork in contemporary practice by developing research processes, attending exhibitions and participating in the wider artistic community. In third year studio subjects, students are expected to explore and develop personal themes and ideas to a greater depth. Professional practice as a visual artist is introduced. This includes skills in visual presentation appropriate to the medium, gallery practice, and compiling a professional portfolio. The focus is on the completion of a body of work for exhibition in the final year exhibition.

Visual Arts Theory and History subjects complement the work in studio practice. In their first year, students are given a foundation in 19th century European, Colonial, indigenous Australian and early modern art as a background to their second-year study of 20th century movements and theories in art and design. Contemporary theoretical perspectives are introduced gradually. By third year the focus is on contemporary visual arts practice, along with the current issues and debates, in Australia and overseas.


Students enrolling in the BCA and BCA double degrees are required to complete:

1. A Major Area of Study in the BCA
The major study is comprised of compulsory subjects which focus on practice and includes compulsory history and theory subjects.

and for students enrolled in a BCA double degree only:

A major area of study in the second degree (for information, please refer to the other Faculty from which the second degree will be taken).

2. Elective Subjects
In addition to subjects required for their major study area/s, students choose elective subjects which make up the total credit point requirement for the degree/s. A limited range of electives is offered by the Faculty of Creative Arts. However, students are encouraged to take advantage of the full range of subjects offered within the University, some elective units are also available through TAFE, by approval. Please note that elective subjects may be limited in double degree programs.

Degree Structure

Each subject is allocated a credit point value. Generally, subjects that take a full year to complete (annual subjects) are valued at 12 credit points, while subjects undertaken for one session (sessional subjects) are, on average, valued at 6 credit points. Normally a full-time student undertakes 48 credit points per year. Thus a degree requiring 144 credit points, such as the BCA, will normally take three years to complete (3 x 48 credit points).

Below is a sample course structure (totalling 108 credit points) for a major study in Visual Arts: